Big Stone Lake State Park is a Minnesota state park near Ortonville, covering 1,131 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 1,131acres
- Ortonvillemailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Lakeside campsites
- Fishing
- Bird watching
- Native prairie
- Spring and summer wildflowers
Plan It in Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Big Stone Lake is 26 miles long and is located on the South Dakota-Minnesota border. The lake is the source of the Minnesota River and attracts anglers who catch walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegills. The northern section of the park, called the Bonanza Area, provides a picnic area and boat launch for guests.
Wildlife. Deer, raccoons, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, meadowlarks, sedge wrens, pheasants, bobolinks, wild turkeys, thrashers, and mourning doves are sighted in the park.
History. In 1923, State Auditor Ray Chase critiqued the state park system and thought there was a geographic imbalance in the system. In his proposal for additional parks, Chase urged that more state parks be established in southern Minnesota.
Geology. Long ago, this area was the south end of glacial Lake Agassiz. Torrents of water cut the valley when glacial river Warren drained Lake Agassiz. The area around Big Stone Lake State Park consists of granite and gneiss quarries.
Visit Facts
- Address35889 Meadowbrook State Park Road Ortonville, MN 56278
- Phone320-839-3663
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursFall Office hours for the park are: Monday-Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM Hours can vary depending on staff availability.
- Emailbigstone.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point45.39161, -96.53036 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Big Stone Lake State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Self-Guided | — | The self-guided Prairie Trail is up to three miles, depending on which branches you choose. The trail meanders through the park's prairie reconstruction and pollinator plot and then winds lakeside through the woods. |
| Summer | Hiking | — | Bluebird Trail This trail is one mile long, and consists of two loops that wander through the wildflowers and past the bluebird boxes in the park's western prairie. Bonanza Hiking Club Trail Located in the park's Bonanza Area, twelve miles north of the main Meadowbrook Area. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in park | — |
Camping and Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 37 sites | Thirteen sites are lakeside, boat landing and beach are nearby. Campground road is not plowed in winter. Generators may not be run at any time, day or night – the campsites are all close together, and the noise will bother other campers. |
| Electric Sites | Ten sites | Near shower building. |
| RV Length Limit | 48 feet | Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing | Big Stone Lake | — |
| Boat Access | Drive-in | — |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Two picnic areas – no shelters | Both areas are lakeside. The Meadowbrook picnic area has a grill. |
| Playground | Sandbox, near campground | — |
| Horseshoes | Near campground | Pick up equipment at park office. |
| Other | Bonanza Education Center (BEC) | — |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | One-quarter mile down the entrance road | — |
| Rentals | — | Canoes and kayak rentals are available on weekends seasonally from the ranger station. Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, and kids discovery kits (activities and stories for age 5-12) are available to check out for free from the ranger station. |
| Firewood | Available seasonally at park office | — |
| Public Phones | — | — |
Pets and Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Directions
From Ortonville, go 7 miles northwest on Hwy. 7. Follow signs to park. Attention GPS navigators: GPS coordinates frequently direct campers to a county road with no access to the park. When traveling north to the park from Ortonville on MN Highway 7, stay on MN Highway 7 and look for large brown highway signs that direct you to Big Stone Lake State Park Meadowbrook Area.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Lac Qui Parle State ParkState Park, about 40 miles away in a straight line
- Glacial Lakes State ParkState Park, about 49 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More in Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
- Pipestone National Monument
- Blue Mounds State Park
- Camden State Park
- Flandrau State Park
- Fort Ridgely State Park
- Kilen Woods State Park
- Lac Qui Parle State Park
- Lake Shetek State Park
- Minneopa State Park
- Monson Lake State Park
- Events in Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Big Stone Lake State Park?
It is near Ortonville, Minnesota. The DNR address is 35889 Meadowbrook State Park Road Ortonville, MN 56278.
How much does it cost to visit Big Stone Lake State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Big Stone Lake State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- Big Stone Lake State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.